After putting it off for a while because storms/HOAs/life in general, Miles and I are finally getting around to putting up a fence around our backyard.
Plan is for 6' privacy fence. One man-gate and one gate sized for a crappy project car to be stashed behind (allegedly, don't tell my HOA). 270' of fencing overall.
For two able-bodied 30yr olds (plus whichever of our friends are still able to be bribed with beer), is this something that we should try and tackle on our own? Or should we just pay someone to put up a fence? If we're putting it in ourselves, what tools will be super helpful that we might not otherwise think to get?
Which type of fence are you talking about?
We recently did 73 acres of 6' fence but they are chain link with razor wire. That was a big project.
For HOA approved, I have a thread about my backyard where I built a sunroom, and did 6 feet wooden fencing. You can also get vinyl, if you are looking for cheaper. Can be done, by yourself.
Depends on what you are looking to do, can provide further info. Also how valuable is your time?
HOA rules mean no vinyl or chain link, so we're looking at a wood privacy fence.
Is there a benefit to shadowbox vs just a plain dog-ear privacy fence?
We put up fencing in our yard and it is totally something you guys can tackle. We had someone come out and mark where utilities are so we didn't dig through our main power or other important stuff and then pulled our survey and submitted a plan to the city for a permit.
For tools, a post hole digger is a necessity and will make digging the holes way easier.
As for paying someone to do it, we got a few quotes and they came in at close to 5x what materials cost alone.
Katie Wilson said:
HOA rules mean no vinyl or chain link, so we're looking at a wood privacy fence.
Is there a benefit to shadowbox vs just a plain dog-ear privacy fence?
We redid these:
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/pressure-washer-deckbrickfence-paint/162919/page1/
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/backyard-build-deckconcretepool/163253/page1/ this is my skill level - pretty novice.
First thread shows the wood fences, did it with my kids.
How easy/hard is digging those holes? When the house next to us got a new fence, the crew started with a hand auger but eventually wound up using one attached to the back of a tractor since the roots were so thick. (Note to the everyone else: Katie and I live in the same neighborhood, although the house next to us backs up to trees and brush.)
STM317
PowerDork
4/28/25 2:33 p.m.
Renting a machine to help with the holes seems like it would save your backs and tons of time. The hardest part is getting the posts properly spaced, in line, and vertical. Once that's done the rest is easy.
It's pretty easy to find the "tow behind" style for rent at HD or local rental places:
If you're the big hammer type, then this would probably get it done in no time:
I have done a few fences over the years using rental post hole diggers. If you're not in a hurry, it's not so bad. My neighbor just put up ~1,500 feet of fence, much of it over uneven terrain. He rented a ditch witch with an auger attachment that seemed to make short work of the holes.
In reply to nsxmr2elises2000 :
Oooh I remember this build! It turned out great.
Our backyard is something like 4500sq ft but decidedly empty, so this is more starting from scratch than rehabbing the existing.
We have a few live oak trees in the backyard, but otherwise it's just soft FL dirt. No bushes, barely even grass to speak of since our sprinklers were broken for so long.
I think manual post digger should be fine?
We can’t have vinyl fences? I know someone who’s been on the board who recently installed one....
I'm finding myself in a phase of life where I sometimes have more money than time, so I got a few fence quotes assuming it would be an easy decision to pay somebody.
Yeah, no. Both quotes were roughly $5,000 plus I'd still have to build a vehicle gate because theirs were $$$$.
Chris and I did it by ourselves for about $500 of materials.
David S. Wallens said:
How easy/hard is digging those holes? When the house next to us got a new fence, the crew started with a hand auger but eventually wound up using one attached to the back of a tractor since the roots were so thick. (Note to the everyone else: Katie and I live in the same neighborhood, although the house next to us backs up to trees and brush.)
Where we live, hand auger isn't possible. Tree roots/rocky ground
Additonally, you have to really secure the post, otherwise 60mph+ wind = kill the fence.
Katie Wilson said:
In reply to nsxmr2elises2000 :
Oooh I remember this build! It turned out great.
Our backyard is something like 4500sq ft but decidedly empty, so this is more starting from scratch than rehabbing the existing.
Thank you. If you start with a plan, and do it slowly, you can definitely get it done. Happy to assist, as lot of people here helped me to get to the finish lie.
Get a survey and have the property lines maked. Then check with your neighbors to make sure they are on board with the survey.
The time to deal with their butt hurt is before you put up a fence.
Katie Wilson said:
We have a few live oak trees in the backyard, but otherwise it's just soft FL dirt. No bushes, barely even grass to speak of since our sprinklers were broken for so long.
I think manual post digger should be fine?
yup we have the live oak trees as well, and they are huge issues.
you can always try a manual, if it doesn't work, move up to bigger tools.
Tom Suddard said:
I'm finding myself in a phase of life where I sometimes have more money than time, so I got a few fence quotes assuming it would be an easy decision to pay somebody.
Yeah, no. Both quotes were roughly $5,000 plus I'd still have to build a vehicle gate because theirs were $$$$.
Chris and I did it by ourselves for about $500 of materials.
chain link here is $24,000 per 5 acres.
David S. Wallens said:
We can’t have vinyl fences? I know someone who’s been on the board who recently installed one....
some of them are so good, you can't even tell the diff. HOA IQ is lower than .....
In reply to jimbob_racing :
Good point. My neighbors are cool and I kept them in the loop for the entire process but they really appreciated me going through the effort to mark the property lines and show on paper where our fence would go so there was no disagreement down the road.
Good news is survey is done and neighbors are all clear about it. Better news is neighbor on one side has a fence and happily said we can share that side with him since Miles already helped him repair it after the last storm.
David.... rules and regs say no vinyl fencing.... but our docs are from like 1985. I'm thrilled if that's changed.
Here I do an official survey always when I put new fence in. Smart move Katie on the survey.
When I was researching this recently I came across the steel posts that can be driven directly into the ground with a rented gas-powered post driver. It seems like a good idea to me, more expensive but saves the cost of concrete and hopefully lasts longer than wood posts. The only concern I found was finding a local rental source for the post driver with the proper attachments.
Lifetime Steel Post 9 ft. x 4 in. Powder Coated Steel Metal Fence Post with Top Plate for Line Applications, Galvanized Steel at Tractor Supply Co
Figure it's time to get some photos involved. The black path in the foreground is the community walking trail, which is part of why we want a fence. For dimensions, the width of the yard along the trail is 106'.
Definitely use a power auger.
Put out a string line so you have a guide to keep the posts in a straight line.
If you can use the galvanized poles instead of treated 4x4. They last much longer.
Otherwise get a bucket of tar, the kind in the paint dept for sealing concrete I think, heat it up (slowly on the stove with the top off), and paint the bottom two feet of every 4x4 post with it including the bottom and seal off the top as well while you are doing it. You need to fill in the post holes with concrete so the posts stay anchored. Bags of concrete are heavy and it looks like you need a lot of it. Wheelbarrow required for moving the bags and mixing the concrete.
